Aug. 11, 2007
The UTEP offensive line struggled in 2006. How have you tried to lead this group to improvement since the end of last season?
I've tried to make myself more vocal, because I'm usually a quiet guy. I try to show guys the right way to do things in practice, like going full speed.
How do you feel that the line is progressing?
I think we're progressing very well. We have a lot of experience and a lot of linemen that know how to play and are playing well.
Who has impressed you early in fall drills?
Simpson Rushing has showed me that he can play as a freshman. He's aggressive, he tries hard and he's really coachable.
What are your personal and team goals for 2007?
My personal goal is to help the team win more games than last year. As a team we're trying to win the conference. That's the ultimate goal -- win the conference and go to the Liberty Bowl.
What kind of adjustments have you had to make snapping to different quarterbacks this season after Jordan Palmer was the guy most of the last two years?
Change is always good. It's a little weird because Jordan was the quarterback for so long. It hasn't been difficult changing to Trevor [Vittatoe]. He doesn't act like a freshman. He acts like he has experience on the field.
What are your thoughts about playing with Terrell Jackson, who is from your hometown, this season?
Terrell and I go way back. We've been playing together since we were 10, and it's a pleasure to be on the same college team with him. We're going to have a lot of fun this year. I think Terrell is an awesome running back. He's quick, agile and aggressive. He's one of the strongest little guys that we have and he uses it to his advantage on the field.
What has been your favorite athletic moment to this point?
Getting a chance to play Division I football.
You played right tackle as a junior and senior at Centennial High School. In 2005, your first year playing center at UTEP, you were named an honorable mention freshman All-American by The Sporting News. How did you make such a smooth transition to a position that is difficult to play?
We had guys on the O-line like Josh House and Jose Garcia who took me under their wing, showed me what to do and gave me the guidance that helped me succeed as a freshman center. I also worked with coach Liv [Lawrence Livingston] quite a bit. We would go over plays and that was essentially my growth as a young center.
Your father played football at Boise State. He must have been excited about the Broncos' success last season.
He was fired up. He was really excited to see them go 13-0 and beat Oklahoma. It was great for us too. It gives us hope and shows us that anyone can do it. It doesn't always have to be the big schools enjoying success.
Who has been most instrumental to your development as a player?
My dad and coach Liv. My dad always told me to stay low, no matter what the play is. Coach Liv has been involved with everything that I do, critiquing me and getting me to where I am now.
You wrestled at 215 pounds in high school. How have you built up your body since then?
I set a goal to gain weight in high school because at first I didn't have any scholarships offers on the table. When schools started coming around, I would tell them that I weighed 250. I set a goal to put on 40 pounds and get bigger and stronger.
You are working on a management degree. What has been your key to balancing academics and athletics?
Managing your time is the key. You have to know when to study and when to rest. You always have to make time to go to class and to eat right.
What are your future goals after you graduate from UTEP?
To make money! I'd definitely like to play in the NFL. It's a slim chance for anyone to play in the league, and if I'm fortunate enough to do it then that would be awesome.
